All Strings Attached

Chapter Nineteen

"What do you want to do, then?" He asks.

I shrug. "Probably watch a movie or something," I tell him, covering myself with the blanket to cozy up.

Dhushyanth turns the TV on, and asks, "do you have a preference?"

"There must be new movies on Netflix," I tell him, "it's Thursday."

It's been a while since I watched a movie on screen.

Dhushyanth looks up the latest releases, and points out a Hindi movie that seems to be new.

Is he watching the movie, too?

Is he not busy or something?

He turns to look at me, and raises his eyebrows. "Do you want to watch this?" He repeats himself. "Or should I keep looking?"

"I don't mind," I shrug, wondering how he would react if I asked about him watching the movie with me.

Is he trying to spend time with me? Or is he just free and whiling it away?

"Dhushyanth," I call out to him, trying not to sound too cautious or hesitant.

"Hm?" He pauses the movie, and looks at me.

I pull the blanket up to my chin, and gulp. "Are you handling the business alongside whatever you need to be doing for the election?"

He shrugs. "Dhruv does a lot of work with the business, along with his legal practice," he says, "so it's not like I'm handling it all by myself, though Dhruv isn't as involved with all parts of the business, so we have other people too. And I have a team of people to help with the election as well, so it's not like I'm stretched out between the two."

"So you're not too busy," I conclude.

"I manage."

Right. So what does that mean?

"I can't be too busy for a movie with you anyway," he says, a corner of his lip quirking up as he eyes me with amusement.

I turn to face the TV, unable to find a quick response.

"Look at me," Dhushyanth murmurs, clearly intended for me to hear. "I've managed to say something that Sita Cherukuri won't come back at."

He doesn't wait for a response to that as he plays the movie.

Regardless of my intentions to not nap, I end up doing just that, and wake up to a quiet room, once again, in Dhushyanth's arms.

It was a semi-conscious, drowned in sleepiness and food coma decision to roll over, closer to Dhushyanth, but what of his decision to cuddle me? And so half-assedly? While I was asleep?

I look up at Dhushyanth, whose eyes are also closed, his face calm and relaxed.

I find myself acting on my intrusive thoughts and laying my palm flat against his bearded cheek, wondering why he hasn't shaved, considering that he needs to look less "shabby" and more "dignified" for the election. He looks quite handsome with one, though. I don't think there have been many instances of Dhushyanth shaving his beard off.

Dhushyanth's eyes flutter open, his eased face quickly quirking up into a smile. "You're up," he comments.

I pull my hand away, using it to cover my gaping mouth. "You were awake?"

An amused smile lights up his face. "What were you trying to do to me while you thought I was asleep?"

"I wasn't trying to do anything with you," I tell him, defending myself as I move backwards to get away from him, but Dhushyanth's hold over my waist tightens, causing me to stop.